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Immediately Check Your Apps

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        Two days ago this urgent notice was printed with the notice "iOS users should immediately check the status of any apps they use, especially if the apps convey bank account numbers or other sensitive personal information."  Take a look:  keep informed.  http://arstechnica.com/security/2015/04/24/critical-https-bug-may-open-25000-ios-apps-to-eavesdropping-attacks/#p3 

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Learning the New Photo Application

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        John Carter sends this announcement of Tutor for Photos for OS X:  We are happy to announce we have our Tutor for Photos for OS X available for members! Learn all about Apple’s iPhoto replacement including importing from iPhoto, syncing with iCloud Photo Library, managing multiple libraries, and showing the sidebar to make it more like iPhoto. We also look at organizing your photos into albums, smart albums, faces, folders, and even how to hide your photos. Photos includes extensive editing tools and we show you how to use them. These tools include enhancing photos, adding filters, straightening photos, cropping photos, and making adjustments to your photos. We also show you how you can compare your edits to the original photo. When you are ready to share your photos we take a look at the different sharing options including creating books, calendars, slideshows, and ordering prints.  Login to view the tutorial.

The Watch is Here

        That's the headline today at http://www.apple.com  Jim Hamm adds this:  "I think today the new Apple Watch is officially launched.  Here is a video by a watch blogger showing and describing his first impressions of the watch as he unboxes it. Although getting one is not in my 'Bucket List', I found the video to be interesting to watch. It's almost as though I'm handling and looking at the watch myself.

        "Now, will this watch be useful or just a 'geeky' toy? As more people get and start using the watch, we'll find out how useful it might be -- there will be lots of blogs."
        Jim goes on to explain, "My impressions after watching the video: very high quality appearance; lots of 'foo-foo' stuff preloaded; the watch wants to come on and display the time every time the wrist is moved, which will be a drain on battery life; easy to change watch bands, which will be nice; many third-party apps will soon be available, which may improve the usefulness of the watch -- as in health apps.
        "Smart watches have been available for some time, so it will be interesting to see how well the Apple Watch will be received in the marketplace. Initial sales seem to be strong -- at least for those that already own an iPhone, which is needed to make the watch useful."

Here's a Tip For Finding Tips

         Jim Hamm thinks you might find a handy tip, and he informs us.  "When David Pogue was the Tech Editor for the New York Times I used to receive and read his helpful technical tips. Then he resigned to go to Yahoo. I lost track of him and what he was doing at Yahoo. Then I came across a video tip from him here.
        "This looks like a good site to poke about in a bit."

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Apps That Are Vulnerable

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        Alert and aware! We spare ourselves a lot of trouble by keeping informed.  The ArsTechnica article of April 20 declares about 1,500 iPhone and iPad apps contain a vulnerability that makes it easy for your encrypted passwords, bank account numbers and other sensitive information to be intercepted.  The article of April 20 needs your attention. http://arstechnica.com/security/2015/04/1500-ios-apps-have-https-crippling-bug-is-one-of-them-on-your-device/

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That Adware!

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        Here's something to consider, sent from Ward Stanke.  He quotes Randy B. Singer, "By far the easiest, quickest, and most complete way to remove adware from one's Macintosh is by using this free product:  AdwareMedic (free)  http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php
        "However, if for some reason you don't care to run Adware Medic, there is a very detailed article on how to manually remove adware, here:
http://www.thesafemac.com/arg-identification/
        "Note that most of the anti-virus software companies don't consider adware to be malicious, so their products don't look for adware."  

        Randy B. Singer is the co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions.)
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Where is Your AV Program Made?

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        "Here is an interesting article that discusses where AV (anti-virus) programs are developed.  I hadn't gave this much thought before reading this article. I use Avast, which comes from the Czech Republic," Jim Hamm gets our attention.  
        "Now, this isn't something that most of us are going to worry about. But, having said that, I think I would avoid any programs coming from China or Russia. I don't trust either of those countries, and they are definitely not our friends. Lots of recent articles about hackers from China and Russia attempting to spy on us.
        "Just a thoughtful, philosophical article for your contemplation...(grin)…" Jim.
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Anti-Virus Software Trouble

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         Commenting, "Folks using the Avast! anti-virus software might be interested in reading this," Jim Hays attaches this, "An article posted on The Safe Mac website states, 'The security community is ablaze with news of Superfish being pre-installed on some Lenovo computers. The primary issue concerning experts is that Superfish replaced SSL certificates, used for ensuring secure connections on the internet, with its own certificates. It turns out that the same behavior is being exhibited by software that many people are inclined to trust: Avast’s anti-virus software!'
     Read all about it here: http://www.thesafemac.com/avasts-man-in-the-middle/#more-1829.

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Keep Informed About Facebook

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        Facebook can track everywhere you go online.  Keep informed, see what Kim Komando says.  http://www.komando.com/tips/12299/step-by-step-guide-to-lock-down-your-facebook-profile/2   She gives 5 pages of what and how-to. 
        (Remember to get a better page view to read go to the link, then see if Reader is in a little blue box at the top right side of the website URL line.  Click on Reader to avoid having to see all the ads on the pages.  When you're on the nice clear Reader page and want to go back to the original website page just click somewhere on the page you're now looking at, and that takes you back to the page with all those ads all over it. Yes, you probably would like to see who supports her page . . . and what else she's writing about.)

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MacBook (2015) Take a Look!

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        "If you're possibly considering getting a new laptop -- or even if you're not, but would like to find out more about what Apple is doing in laptops -- you might take a read on this review of Apple's new Macbook. This review is one of the best I've ever read. Well done, I'd say -- and the Macbook looks very impressive also,"  and that's Jim Hamm's introduction to this snazzy new laptop.  
        Look here http://www.imore.com/macbook-2015-review  and find out about how the Butterfly mechanism replaces the Scissors mechanism, and what the Force Touch trackpad can do.  Read on:  It uses a combination of Force Touch and Taptics, it is "fanless," and it starts at only $1,299.  This is 36 ages of delightful description with large photos.  And that's followed by a total of 107 reader comments.
        Now, if that wasn't enough Jim Hamm follows up with, "OK, so you're gonna buy the new 2015 Macbook laptop. Want to see what it looks like inside? Take a look.  https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Retina+Macbook+2015+Teardown/39841

        "First impressions: the computing 'stuff' is awfully small, the computer is mostly battery, it looks to be difficult to assemble, and very difficult to disassemble. 
        "But, overall, a very impressive laptop," Jim concludes. 

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Apple Watch is Almost Here

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              Available 4.24.15; yes, the Apple Watch is almost here.  Pre-order now!  Watch the Guided Tours!  https://www.apple.com
            David Passell sends this link about the Apple Watch with his announcement, "I am not going to buy one."  http://www.zdnet.com/article/planned-to-order-apple-watch-reviews-other-watches-galaxy-s6-edge-killed-that-idea/?tag=nl.e539&s_cid=e539&ttag=e539&ftag=TRE17cfd61

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Walmart App Saves You Money

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        Jim Hamm gets our attention with "If you occasionally shop at Wally World, a blogger wrote the the following about an app that is available. It might be worth checking out."  
        "If you shop at Walmart you might want to check out their Savings Catcher Program.  Just download the Walmart app for your phone and then use it to scan your Walmart receipts.  There is a QR code at the bottom of every Walmart receipt that looks like this:  


        "Just use the Walmart app to scan the code and then WM will compare what you paid to prices at other stores in the area.  If they find a lower price, they credit you with the difference.  
        "So far in the last several months, we've gotten a little over $17 back.  You can collect it by printing out an e-card at home and then use it at the checkout.  So, check it out." 

Bling or Practicality?

        "This article is interesting in its price comparison of bling and practicality," comments David Passell.  He continues,  "I personally am happy with my old radioactive 'Microtec' watch, though the Tritium is over its half-life:). I wonder if the Watch will be the Newton of the 21st century. (I see links to other articles on Apple at the article.)"
http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-apples-12-inch-macbook-could-steal-apple-watchs-thunder/?tag=nl.e589&s_cid=e589&ttag=e589&ftag=TREc64629f

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A "Supercookie" is on Your Smartphone

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        "If you use Verizon on your smartphone you may have read about Verizon placing a 'super cookie' on your phone. Here is an article explaining more about this issue, and how to opt out of the 'super cookie,'"  and with that we can envision Jim Hamm with a serious look, followed by his grin.  
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iPad, Five Years Later

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        "If you own an iPad, you may recall it was released a little over five years ago by Apple. Here is an interesting -- if somewhat lengthy -- article with comments from various writers on their initial and later perspective of what the iPad was all about," says Jim Hamm.  
        He concludes, "Although, for me, the iPad won't replace a computer, I find it quite handy to have, and feel like my iPad and computer work quite well together, and I wouldn't want to be without either."

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Broadband Controversy

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        We've been seeing some info and opinions on the broadband controversy.  Here's some food for thought from David Passell.  "This sounds like a good idea.   I just took action to urge Congress to pass the Community Broadband Act and stop cable companies from blocking fast and affordable Internet access.         "I think you should too, Click here.         "I don't know if AZ has such laws blocking municipal broadband. In any case cities or even neighborhoods should have full access to the bandwidth speed they are paying for.          "In this web page, Finland gave its citizens the right to a 1Mb connection.         "P.S. 1MB isn't fast, but it is adequate for email and news."